Safety device for aeroplanes



J. B. THELEN ET AL SAFETY DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES Jan. 12 1926. 1,569,590

Filed Sept. 26, 1925 '2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 1 0% /n aw fad/2m Jan. 12 1926.

J. B. THELEN ET AL SAFETY DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES Filed 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 4% if ave v It's Patented Jan. 12, 1926,

UNITED STATES PATENT o FicE.

JOHN B. THELEN AND PETER L. IBOU'LZKJZ-Ul'LT, O1? MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES.

Application filed September 26, 1925. Serial No. 58,808.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN B. THELEN and PETER L. BOULIOAULT, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of VVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Aeroplanes; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention aeroplanes.

Objects of this invention are to provide a 'device which maybe attached to a aeroplane and which will provide means for protecting the aeroplane against damage in case of falling.

More signed to provide means which act to restrain the motion of the aeroplane during a fall and cause it to descend at a rate which will not injure it or its occupant upon landing, in case the aeroplane becomes disabled troiuany cause.

Further objects are to provide a safety device for aeroplanes which may be instantly brought into use in a very simple manner, which .is automatic in its unfolding opera tion, and which, when not in use, may be bodily carried by the aeroplane Further objects are to provide a safety device for aeroplanes which may be adjusted to occupy a small-amount of space when the atcroplane is upon the ground to facilitate stcuiing of the machine. r

- An QlIllJOdll'llQllt of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sideelevation of the aero plane with the device in position thereon.

Figure 2 is asectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary,detail section of the rear end of one of the tubes. such view showing the para hute attachment folded in position in full lines and in extended position indot-ted lines.

Figure 1 is a sectional view on the line 4lt of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device is carried by means of a central standard 1 secured within the body portion 2 of the aeroplane. This central standard extend-s upwardly and carries a longitudinally extending sh ft 3, as shown in Figrelates to safety devices for specifically, this invention is de- 2. This shaft is preferably reenforced by means. of standards 4 and 5, asshown in Fig j rstasn ure 1, in order to increase the stiffness of the structure.

The standard 1 continues upwardly and arries a tube 6. A pair of side tubes 7 and 8, similar to the tube 6, are provided and are carried by arms 9 and 10 pivoted to the'shaft 3, as shown most clearly in Figure 2. These arms are joined to a crosshead 11 by means of, links 12. The standard 1 is provided with aplurality of apertures 13 adapted to receive a bolt or similar fastening member 1st carried by the crossheadll when it is de- 1 sired to lock the parts in a fixed position. The crosshead is adapted to bemoved by means of the cam15, such cam being pivoted to the standard 1 and provided with a manipulating handle 16. Thus when the machine is on the ground and it is desired to elevate the. tubes-*1- and 8, it is merely necessary to remove the bolt 14 and rock the cam by means of the lever 16. However, in order to hold the arms'9 and 10 against upward motion, a pair of cables 17 and 18 are provided whose upper ends are attached to such arms and whose lower ends are attached to a drum operated by means of a crank 19.

The drum is equipped with ratchet teeth 20 which are temporarily locked by means of the pawl 21. Eachof thetubes 6. 7 and 8 is constructed of light metal, such for instance,"as aluminum, and is open at its front and rear end. Consider forexainple Figure 4 in which one of the tubes is shown in considerable detail, for instance tube 6, it being understood that all of thetubes and their associated parts are of s milar construction.

The tube is provided with an annular housing 22 whose rear portion is spaced from the inner surface of the tube, as shown in Figure 2. Aparachute formed of any suitable flexible material such as canvas, silk, or any suitable material, is indicated by the reference character 23 and, as will be noted from F igure 4, has its edges attached to the ure 4. This spider offers very little resistance to the air and allows it to flow freely therethrough under normal conditions. It is provided with a central apertured hub 26 which slidably carries a pin 27. This pin has, at its forward end, a. pivotal connection with a disk or plate 28, such plate normally occupying the position shown in full lines in Figure 3.

A control cable 29 extends to the plate 28 and passes over pulleys 30 and 31 (see Figures 1 and 3) and extends downwardly to the cock pit of the aeroplane. If desired, all of the cables n'iay he joined or else a single cable may be run from each of the plates 28 lVhen the aeroplane makes its flight, the tubes are in the position shown in Figure 2 and remain in this position, under normal conditions except during storing of the machine. If for any reason the aeroplane should fall, it is merely necessary for the operator to pull upon the cables 29. This action causes the disks 28 to pi ot about the forward ends of the pins 27. The air rushing through the tubes will force the plate rearwardly into contact with the spider, the pin 27 freely sliding through the hub 26. This closes the parachute and the wind pressure forces it out rearwardly from the tube, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The three parachutes, therefore, retard the m0- tion of the aeroplane and cause it to descend at a rate which will not injure either the aeroplane or the occupants therein.

It will be seen that an extremely simple type of safety appliance for aeroplanes has been provided which will effectively control the descent of an aeroplane, and which may be very quickly thrown into operation as the case demands.

It will. be seen further that the safety appliance may be readily adjusted and controlled from the cock pit of the aeroplane.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously embodied and is, therefore, to be limited only as claimed.

lVe claim:

1. The combination of an aeroplane, a frame extending therefrom, a safety ap'pliance carried by said frame and consisting of a tube open at both ends to normally permit the passage of air therethroun h, a. parachute normally folded within said tube, and means to render said passage of air effective to project the parachute from the tube.

2. A safety appliance for aeroplanes comprising a frame adapted for attachment to the body of the aeroplane,a plurality of tubes carried by said frame and extending longitudinally of the body of the aeroplane, said tubes being open at their front and rear ends to permit passage of air therethrough, a plurality of parachutes carried by said tubes and normally folded within said tubes, said parachutes having open ends, and means for closing one of the open ends of said parachutes, whereby they will be forced rearwardly from said tubes into their expanded position by the passage of air through said tubes- 3. A safety appliance for aeroplanes comprising a frame adapted for attachment to the body of the aeroplane, a plurality of tubes carried by said frame and extending longitudinally of the body of the aeroplane, said tubes being open at their front and rear ends, to permit passage of air therethrough,

a plurality of parachutes carried by said tubes and normally folded within said tubes. sai d parachutes having open ends, and means I01 closing one of the open ends of said parachutes, whereby they will be forced rearwardly from said tubes into their eX- panded position, and means for adjusting the relative position of said tubes.

l. The combination of an aeroplane having wings and a body portion, a frame secured to said body portion and projecting upwardly, a plurality of tubes carried by said frame and mounted above the wings or said aeroplane, said tubes having open front and rear ends, and each having; an annular housing therein, a parachute attached to the rear end of each of said tubes and normally folded within the corresponding tube and positioned beneath said housing, said parachutes each having an open spider'at its rear end, a pivotally and slidably mounted disk carried by each of said spiders, and means extending from said disks to the aeroplane for causing said disks to close the opening through said spider.

In testimony that we claimthe foregoing we have hereunto set our hands at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin,

JOHN B. THELEN. PETER L. BOULIGAULT. 

